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It was Wilfred's conviction that 〃this kind of thing〃 could not； indeed；
last long； which kept him awake half through the night； and yet； when the
morning sunlight flooded the cove； it seemed impossible that deeds of
violence could be committed in so peaceful a world。 In that delusion；
however； he could not long remain； Lahoma's next letter came
confirmatory of his worst fears。
〃Just read it aloud； Wilfred；〃 said Brick； as all gathered about the
lantern in the retreat at the mountain…top。 〃We're all one； now； and I've got
no secrets from youat least none that's knowed to Lahoma。 And if the
case seems immediate； I reckon you'll prove game； son。〃
Wilfred nodded briefly。 〃My horse is ready saddled；〃 he said； as he
opened the letter addressed to Willock。 〃As soon as I've read 'Yours truly；'
I'll be ready to jump into the saddle； so I say 'good…by' now！〃
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CHAPTER XVIII
LIFE ON ONE CONDITION
〃Dear Brick and Bill：
〃I put Bill in； because I am sure that by this time he has been told what
was in my last letter； and I know he's true blue。 I have been so excited
since finding out that Red Kimball is determined on revenge； and that Mr。
Gledware may be a witness for him； that I can't think about anything but
the danger at the cove。 I feel that I ought to be there； to lend a hand； what
will you do without me； if that horrible highwayman comes slipping
around Turtle Hill； or creeps down the north mountain in the dead of night？
And I would be on my way there； now； if I didn't hope to find out more
about their plans。
〃They have come back from the picnic； and I am on the watch； feeling
sure Red Kimball will come again to have another talk with Mr。 Gledware。
But he hasn't come yet； and everything is quiet and peaceable； as if things
were going along as things always do and always willit makes me
dreadfully nervous！ So； as it seemed that nothing was going to happen； I
decided to stir up something myself。 When there's no news； why not make
some of your own？ I made some。
〃This is the same day I overheard that plot in the library； but it is night。
When it was good and dark； Annabel came up to my room where I was
watching the road from my window； and she sat down and began talking
about the picnic and what a fine time she had had； with a good deal about
going to Europe。 She was all flushed and running over with talk； and after
a while it came clear that she's just been engaged to Mr。 Gledware。
〃It seemed to me it would be like fighting behind bushes to tell her
what I thought of Mr Gledware； while under his roof and at his expense；
so I opened up matters by talking about Wilfred Compton。 I told her how
faithful and true Wilfred has been to her all these years； carrying her letters
next to his heart； and dreaming of her night and day； and how he came to
see me； once； because it had been two years since he'd seen a sure…enough
girl； and how I tried to interest him as hard as I could； but he never wanted
to come back because his heart belonged to Annabel。
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〃After a while she began to cry； but it wasn't over Wilfred； it was over
Edgerton。 When Wilfred went away to be a cowboy she lost interest and
sympathy in him because she doesn't understand cowboys； they are not in
her imagination。 But his brother Edgerton has always been a city man in
nice clothes with pleasing manners； and if he had money But what's the
use talking？ Seems like that's the worst waste of time there can be； and the
most aggravating； to say if so…and…so had money I Because if he hasn't got
it； somebody else has； and if you think money's more than the man； there
you are。 And Mr。 Gledware has it。 He's not the man but he has the money。
〃Then I expressed myself。 You know what I think。 So does Annabel；
now。 That's how I made me some news； when there wasn't any。 The news
is； that Annabel will never forgive me； and as I'm here solely as her guest；
my guesting…time will be briefjust long enough to find out what Mr。
Gledware decides to do。 I oughtn't to have told Annabel that she was
mercenary； or that Mr。 Gledware was as hard as a stone and as old as M
（I'm not sure how to spell him； but you remember： the oldest man）。 Yes； I
know I oughtn't。 If a woman can marry a man when she doesn't love him；
it won't change her purpose to know what YOU think about it； because her
own feelings are the biggest things that could stand in the way。
〃But I told her； anyway。 Seemed like everything in me turned to words
and poured out without my having to keep it going。 I just stood there and
watched myself say things。 You see； Annabel is so dainty and pretty； and
naturally so sweetand Mr。 Gledwarewell； he ISN'T。 The more I thought
of that； and the better I remembered poor Wilfred pining away for her in
the desert； and not coming back to see me because he couldn't get HER
out of his brain； and how she changed from him to his brother； and from
Mr。 Edgerton to Mr。 Gledware； I was ashamed of her； and sorry for her；
and angry with her。
〃I wish I hadn't said anything。 But I felt glorious at the time； just like a
storm sweeping across the prairie； purifying the air and not caring whether
the earth wants to be purified or not。 I did wrong； because I came to the
big world to study people of culture and refinement； not to quarrel with
them。 You must have money； you MUST have money； you MUST have
money； if you're civilized。 I don't care if I AM a little storm。 Yes； of course；
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I know a storm isn't a civilized thing。 Well； I know what I'm going to do；
I'm going to come back and blow the rest of my life right there in the cove；
with my Brick and my Bill。
〃So that's my news； that I'm dissatisfied with the big world。 It isn't like
I'd have made it； that's the truth！ Now I'll lay this letter aside to cool （I
mean IT； and ME； too） and I'll not send it until something about Red
Kimball happens； so you'll be posted on what really matters。 After all；
people that marry for money aren't important； they don't belong to big
affairsbut there's something worth discussing in a plot to commit murder。
That MEANS something； as Brick would say； it's 'vital。' These people
about me； kind； gentle； correct；all their waking thoughts are devoted to
little thingsfashionable trifles that last no longer than the hour in which
they're bornjust time…killers。 I enjoy these pleasing trifles； but my eyes
are opened and I know they ARE trifles。 These people's eyes are not
opened。 Why？ Because they haven't lived in the West； neighboring with
real things like alkali plains and sand…storms and granite mountains。
〃My！ but it would open their eyes if one of their dearest friends was in
danger of getting himself hanged！ Something permanent in THAT！
〃LATER： This is midnight。 I expect to leave as soon as I possibly can；
but probably this letter will get away first； so here's something new to put
your mind on； it's rather dreadful； when you give it a calm thought。 But
my thoughts are not calm。 Far from it。 Oh； how excited I was！ But I guess
THEY didn't know it。 It all happened about an hour ago； and you can see
that my hand is still a little shaky。
〃There was a bright moonlight； but you needn't be afraid I'm going to
talk about THAT； this isn't any tale about moons。 I was sitting at my
window because I couldn't sleep； not that I expected to see anything
unusual。 There's a big summer…house at the far end of the lawn； all covered
with vines； and there's a walk between dense shrubbery； leading to it from
the house。 I guess that's why I didn't see anybody go to that summer…house。
The first thing I DID see was Red Kimball come out and slip through a
little side…gate； and hurry along the country road。 As soon as I saw him； I
guessed that he and Mr。 Gledware had been conspiring in the summer…
house。 What